US pooch crowned World's Ugliest Dog

California: It’s that time of the year again when dogs with unusually large heads, hairless bodies and other oddities compete to be the World’s Ugliest Dog. This year, a two-year-old mutt named Peanut, with wild white and brown hair, bulging eyes and protruding teeth has been crowned the World's Ugliest Dog.

Although Peanut is healthy now, his owner, Holly Chandler of Greenville, North Carolina, says he was seriously burned as a puppy, resulting in bald patches all over his body.

She hopes Peanut’s victory will help raise awareness about animal abuse. “We’re trying to use him as a poster child for what can happen to animals who are abused,” she said. She plans to use the $1,500 prize to pay for other animals’ veterinary bills.

The contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California scores dogs in several categories, including special attributes, personality and natural ugliness.

The dogs are scored by a three-judge panel in several categories, including special or unusual attributes, personality and natural ugliness.

The winners in previous years include a duckfooted beagle, boxer and basset hound mix with a waddle, a Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix with a protruding tongue and short tufts of hair and a Chihuahua with a missing eye and a camel's back.